One of the absolute highlights in New York for us is the rooftop bars, which give you a view of the thousand lights of the skyline. We have put together the hippest and best rooftop bars for you here – because what could be better than enjoying the view of New York at night with a drink in your hand?
To help you find the best locations in your area, we have created a Rooftop Bar Guide and sorted all bars by district, as well as listing our favorites. We wish you already now a lot of fun while “rooftop-ing” and sipping cocktails!
We are often asked and unfortunately, we always have to say that all bars are only from 21 years on. The ID’s (in New York they ask you for ID’s) are often asked for at the entrance or when ordering. If you are there with teenagers or children you can visit these rooftop bars, but there are exceptions.
Rooftop-Bars at Times Square
Endless skyscrapers, crowded sidewalks and streets filled with honking taxis – that’s the image most people have of the turbulent, bustling area in the heart of Manhattan. The spectacle in Times Square attracts countless tourists every day to the pulse of the city. Something very special is to see the bustle from a bird’s eye view. We have selected the best rooftop bars for you!
Times Square in New York is without a doubt one of the most famous sights in New York City. It extends from West 45th to West 47th Street and is bordered by Broadway and 7th Avenue.
St. Cloud Rooftop Bar
Wonderful view from the Rooftop Bar St. Cloud at Times Square
The St. Cloud Rooftop Bar is one of my personal favorites in Times Square because the view from it is really beautiful. It is located on the 17th floor of the Knickerbocker Hotel and is known for its very good cocktails.
Address: 6 Times Square (corner of Broadway and 42nd Street)
The Lookup
The Lookup Rooftop bar is one of the newest Rooftopbars in Midtown and still a real insider tip! It is wonderfully uncomplicated, not yet so crowded and you have a great view of the Empire State Building.
The Sky Room Bar: Manhattan’s highest roof terrace
One of the hippest lounges in New York is located at over 120 meters (400 feet) on the roof of the Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Times Square. The name says it all: from the rooftop bar Sky Room, you can have a sensational view of just about anything you want: from Times Square to Hudson to the Empire State Building. Thanks to the 360 degree view!
Haven Rooftop & Restaurant
If you are looking for an extraordinary spot in New York that combines restaurant AND rooftop bar, we have something very special for you: the Haven Rooftop & Restaurant on Times Square.
There are even more insider spots in our Loving New York travel guide!
Mad46 Rooftop Lounge
The rooftop bar mad46 is located at The Roosevelt Hotel New York on Madison Avenue and is very close to Bryant Park. The less known and therefore not so crowded rooftop bar mad46 in Midtown is a real insider tip!
Refinery Rooftop Bar
A very small Refinery Rooftop-Bar very close to Bryant Park with a beautiful view of the Empire State Building you can enjoy from the roof terrace of the Refinery Hotel. This rooftop bar in Midtown is not very big with almost 300 m2, but has its charm due to the combination of location and quality of the cocktails.
Rooftop Bar and Lounge Bar 54
One of the most popular rooftop bars in Times Square is Bar 54, located on the roof of the Hyatt Times Square Hotel New York on the 54th floor (hence the name), from where you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city. Bar 54 is also a lounge, so you can go there even if the weather is not so good.
Rooftop bars in the Meatpacking District
One of the hippest areas in New York City is the vibrant Meatpacking District. This is where people party, get their credit cards glowing and eat in very good restaurants. Here, too, we made the roofs of the city unsafe, but also the streets! You can find all details about the district in our insider guide.
One of the hippest areas in New York City is the vibrant Meatpacking District. This is where people party, get their credit cards glowing and eat in very good restaurants. The cobblestone streets and industrial buildings provide clues…
CATCH Roof
The CATCH Roof in the Meatpacking District is our latest discovery. If the weather doesn’t play along, it’s no problem here: there’s a lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and a very good restaurant!
Rooftop bars in Midtown
This part of the city attracts countless tourists every day to New York City’s most famous sights and unique skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. In the heart of the city, there are especially many roof terraces where you can enjoy the view of the city.
Endless skyscrapers, crowded sidewalks and streets filled with honking taxis – that’s the image most people have of the turbulent, bustling area in the heart of Manhattan. This part of the city attracts the…
230 Fifth Rooftop Bar: Dream view of the Empire State Building
A really great location is this rooftop bar on 5th Avenue at 27th Street in the direct neighborhood of the Flatiron in Midtown. It is one of our favorite rooftop bars because it has probably the best view of the Empire State Building.
La Birreria – Rooftop bar at the Flatiron
We came across La Birreria through the documentary about the beer specialist Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head on DMAX. He produces fancy beers that sometimes use wood chips or herbs during the brewing process. This rooftop bar is another one of those spots you have passed by so often without discovering it!
The Heights Rooftop bar (with glass bottom)
The Heights Rooftop bar gives you a great view over downtown and uptown Manhattan – thanks to its location just two blocks from the Empire State Building at the height of 31st Street.
The highlight? The glass floor of the rooftop terrace, which protrudes quite a bit over the edge of the building!
Monarch Rooftop Lounge at Herald Square
The Monarch Rooftop Lounge is not only beautifully designed as one of the most beautiful lounges in the city and an outdoor area, but also offers you a sensational view of the Empire State Building.
Roof Garden Café and Martini Bar at The Met
From May to October, enjoy art, coffee, light snacks, cocktails and a sensational view over Central Park, Midtown and the Upper East Side at the Roof Garden Café and Martini Bar at the Met. On Fridays and Saturdays, the café becomes the Martini Bar – the relaxed and informal atmosphere is particularly pleasant here. By the way, this is also a nice & quiet place for families with children.
Up On 20 rooftop bar in Hyatt Herald Square
Sitting in the Up On 20 rooftop bar, you can look at one of the two icons of the city – the Empire State Building and the new World Trade Center – and end the day with delicious cocktails.
Bar SixtyFive and Rooftop Lounge in the legendary Rainbow Room
Now for the 3rd time, the legendary Rainbow Room is reopened and again everything looks very spectacular. On the 65th floor at Rockefeller Plaza, you will not only find the Rainbow Room, but also the bar, outdoor terrace and rooftop lounge “Bar SixtyFive”.
Pod 39 Hotel
Small but nice: one of the newest rooftop bars in New York is located on the East River and is called Pod 39, from where you have a great view over the East River and Midtown. It’s great location and one of our favorite areas in New York – lots of bars and pubs are close by!
Renaissance New York Hotel 57
One of the lesser-known rooftop bars in New York is the Renaissance New York Hotel 57, and the interior is really well done – Asian and oriental influences are clearly visible. The view from there is really nice, although the rooftop terrace is “only” on the 17th floor. Insider tip: from here a shot of the intro to the series “Sex in the City” was taken. So for fans, this is an absolute must see!
Rooftop bar and lounge “Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel”
On the 30th floor of the Kimberly Hotel is the rooftop bar and lounge “Upstairs at the Kimberly Hotel”. Located in midtown, you have a spectacular view of one of the most beautiful buildings in New York: the Chrysler Building. Not all Rooftop-Bars offer a limitless panoramic view, but the “Upstairs” can serve with it. Even if you should be in New York during the colder months, this rooftop bar is ideal: the sliding glass panels and walls guarantee wind protection.
Rooftop Bar and Lounge “The Roof”
A really nice rooftop bar near Central Park is “The Roof””. It was opened in March 2014 and is one of the hippest after-work rooftop bars in New York. Besides the roof terrace, which offers sensational views of the city, there is also a lounge area, which is furnished in the style of a yacht – very cool! You will find the rooftop bar “The Roof” at the Viceroy Hotel New York, which belongs to the Gerber Group. Their signature are high-quality hotels and you can see that in the Rooftop bar!